Jang Hyun-seok's task in 74 ⅓ innings, which is embarrassing to be the second Park Chan-ho, has been in place for two years

Sep 02, 2025

Jang Hyun-seok's task in 74 ⅓ innings, which is embarrassing to be the second Park Chan-ho, has been in place for two years
장현석. Photo = LA Dodgers Club X Account



Jang Hyun-seok's 2025 season, considered a promising pitcher for the LA Dodgers Farm, is coming to an end.

Jang Hyun-suk did not play full time this season either. His team Single A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes will end the season with a six-game home series against the Fresno Grizzlies (under the Colorado Rockies) on the 3rd and 8th. In other words, Jang Hyun-seok has one more regular season appearance left. Rancho Cucamonga will have the best-of-three division series with the Inland Empire 66ers (under the Los Angeles Angels) from the 10th, and Jang Hyun-seok may join the postseason rotation.

Earlier, Jang Hyun-seok returned from the injured list (IL) on the 1st (Korea time) and played his return match. He started an away game against the Lake Elsino Storm (under the San Diego Padres) at The Diamond in Lake Elsino, California, giving up two hits and two walks and allowing two runs in two innings. The team lost 2-5, and Jang Hyun-seok lost.




Jang Hyun-seok, who took the mound for the first time in 91 days since June 2, lost two games with a two-run home run, but his extreme ball control anxiety has emerged as a serious problem, with two walks, one pitch and two wild pitches. It tells you Jang Hyun-suk's condition this season. It is analyzed that more time is needed to recover normal condition.

Jang Hyun-seok's task in 74 ⅓ innings, which is embarrassing to be the second Park Chan-ho, has been in place for two years
Jang Hyun-seok returned to Single A on the 1st (Korea time) and started the game against Lake Elsino Storm and pitched in the 1st inning. Photo = MiLB.TV Capture
In the bottom of the first inning, Jang Hyun-seok, who threw a fastball in the middle of the sixth pitch to left-handed batter Dylan Grego and gave a line-drive hit to right-center, threw the first pitch and the second pitch to Alex McCoy on a one-bound wild pitch, driving him to third base with no outs. Jang Hyun-seok, who then struck out McCoy with an outside fastball from the full count, threw a fastball to left-handed batter Cavares Tiers in the middle of the first pitch and was hit with a two-run shot that went over the fence with a line drive. It was an obvious mistake. The third homer of the season. Afterwards, he faced three more batters and allowed one walk before barely finishing the inning.

Jang Hyun-seok was also nervous in the second inning. Jang Hyun-seok, who sent out the lead, Cardel Thibodeau, with a straight walk and a check, allowed Bradley Fry to steal second base, putting him on the verge of a one-out and second base, and handled both subsequent batters with outfield flies to finish the inning.




Jang Hyun-seok has an ERA of 4.78 by giving up 21 hits, 30 walks and 3 pitches in 37 ⅔ innings. He struck out 48, but there are too many four pitches. In contrast, the hit rate (0.163) and WHIP (1.35) are incompatible.

If control doesn't go your way, the league can't work anywhere.

Jang Hyun-seok's task in 74 ⅓ innings, which is embarrassing to be the second Park Chan-ho, has been in place for two years
사진=MiLB.TV Capture
Jang Hyun-seok was placed on the development list on June 3 and was transferred to the 7-day injured list (IL) on July 4. It took three months for his physical condition to recover to normal, and this season is likely to finish in Single A as it is. It is also an injury that hindered the growth of Jang Hyun-seok, who was originally expected to be promoted to High Single A or Double A.




Jang Hyun-seok, who went to the U.S. last year and played 18 games in Rookie Level and Single A, made a 'walk in place' again this year. In two seasons, he pitched 74 ⅓ innings in 30 games (27 starts). The ERA is 5.45, the hit rate is 0.163, and the WHIP 1.35 is the record so far. Ahead of the season, local media classified Jang Hyun-seok as a top-class prospect based on his age and pitch itself, but now when the season is over, there is a high possibility of a stingy evaluation.

MLB Pipeline placed Jang Hyun-seok 22nd in the Dodgers' prospect rankings earlier this year, evaluating that he would have the potential to start the second starter if he caught the command and control. There was also a media outlet that described it as 'the second Park Chan-ho'.

Jang Hyun-suk, who was born in March 2004, signed with the Dodgers for $900,000 in August 2023. Next year, he will have to play the 22-year-old season. It's unclear if we can start with Double A.

Jang Hyun-seok's task in 74 ⅓ innings, which is embarrassing to be the second Park Chan-ho, has been in place for two years
사진=MiLB.com
Park Chan-ho went straight to the major leagues with his joining in 1994, but practically honed his skills in the minor leagues for two seasons until 1995. In 1994, he pitched 101 ⅓ innings in 20 appearances in Double-A, recording 5-7 losses, 3.55 ERA, 100 strikeouts, WHIP 1.46, batting average of 0.200, and in 1995, pitched 23 games and 110 innings in Triple-A, recording 6-7 ERA, 4.91, WHIP 1.54, and 0.074. He spent his first full-time major league season in 1996 at the age of 23 after pitching 211 ⅓ innings for Palm.

These days, if you are good at it, you have to throw for a few seasons and several innings in the Minor League. There are many cases where he made his big league debut without playing in the minor leagues for less than a year after the draft. But it's been a long time to expect that from Jang Hyun-seok.

Jang Hyun-seok, who is now passing Single A at the age of 21, is important to be promoted to Double A and Triple A, but it is urgent to build a pitching career that deserves some evaluation. Now is not the time to discuss promotion to the Major League or hear things like 2nd Park Chan-ho. Considering next year as the first full-time season, the big league Dodgers will be able to attract attention only when they pitch more than 100 innings. Of course, you shouldn't get sick.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.